Universal serial bus, or USB, is an electronic communications protocol that is commonly used in computer accessories and other small devices. Devices like keyboards, mice, cameras, printers, memory storage drives, and mp3 players will usually connect to your computer using a USB cord. Some of these devices even draw all their power from the USB cord. There are only a few considerations involved in learning how to attach a USB drive to your computer. Keeping these considerations in mind will allow you to use USB drives and devices with minimal trouble.

Steps

1

Install any necessary drivers first. If you still have the packaging for the USB drive, check the instructions to see if a driver is included for installation. A driver is a piece of software that allows your computer to communicate with the drive. All operating systems are designed to automatically download the required drivers, but if you have no Internet connection, or if the instructions specify to install the driver manually, you should do so.

The driver will generally be included on a CD if manual installation is necessary. Insert the CD and follow the prompts that appear to install the driver.

2

Power on your device and your computer. If your USB drive has a power switch or power cord, turn the drive on before attempting to connect it to your computer. Turn on your computer as well.

3

Attach the USB cord to the drive, if applicable. Small storage drives will typically have an integrated USB connector, but portable hard drives and other devices may need a cord. Plug the cord into the device to ready it for connecting to your computer.

4

Locate the USB ports on your computer. USB ports look like small, rectangular openings with 4 metal contacts inside. The ports will have the USB logo next to them, which shows a circle and a 3-pronged arrow. If you plan on using the device on a permanent basis, use a USB port located on the back of your computer. Front ports are a better option for quickly attaching devices and removing them shortly after.

5

Plug the USB cord into your computer's USB port. After deciding on a port to use, simply plug the drive's USB connector or cord into the port. The connector should fit easily and snugly into the port; it will only fit in 1 direction, so flip the connector around if the fit seems wrong.

6

Wait for any drivers to install. If attaching the drive for the first time, your operating system may search for and install the necessary drivers. You will see a prompt after a few seconds that the drivers have been installed and that the device is ready for use. If you already installed drivers manually, you don't need to wait to use the drive.

7

Disconnect the USB drive when done. After using the device, you need to eject or "unmount" it first. In Windows, you can right-click on the drive's icon in Explorer and select "Eject." In Mac, drag the drive's icon to the trash bin, which will show an "eject" icon while you have the drive selected. After doing this, physically remove the drive by pulling on it gently.

Community Q&A

How do I attach a hard drive to my computer if it doesn't have a USB port?

wikiHow Contributor

Open the computer up and then attach the HDD to the motherboard using a SATA or IDE cable (SATA is thinner than IDE). If the HDD cannot be plugged in with a SATA or IDE cable then get an adapter (IDE or SATA to USB).

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Tips

For USB-powered devices (those without a battery or power cord), you should plug them directly into your computer's USB ports. Using these devices with a USB hub may not allow them to draw enough power.

Warnings

Do not remove a USB drive while data is being saved to it. This will corrupt your files and render them unusable.